Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has made a strong appeal to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to release New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako—popularly known as Chairman Wontumi—on self-recognisance bail.
Leading Minority MPs to EOCO to solidarise with Wontumi on Thursday, Afenyo-Markin condemned the manner of Wontumi’s arrest and criticised the bail conditions imposed by EOCO, describing them as excessive and unjustified.
“Wontumi must be freed now. He is not going to run away. He will make himself available. He should be admitted to self-recognisance bail,” he asserted. “That so-called GHS50 million bail justification is unreasonable and outrageous.”
Wontumi has been in EOCO custody since May 27 following his arrest in connection with ongoing investigations into alleged financial irregularities involving EXIMBANK. The bail conditions, which require two sureties and a total sum of GHS50 million, have triggered widespread concern among his supporters and political allies.
Afenyo-Markin also decried the approach taken by law enforcement in effecting Wontumi’s arrest, likening it to a military-style operation.
“That man was not invited. They used ‘Rambo style’ to arrest him, and you take him into custody,” he said.
